Fort Mill imposes temporary pause on new residential rezoning and advances comprehensive plan outreach

The Town of Fort Mill council voted to adopt a temporary moratorium — described in the meeting as a "pause" — on accepting applications for rezoning or annexation that include any residential component through Dec. 30. Council and staff said the pause is intended to allow completion of the town’s comprehensive planning process, the upcoming downtown master plan and the parks and recreation master plan so that new applications do not conflict with updated vision and regulations.

Chris Pettit, a town staff member, explained the ordinance would pause acceptance of new residential rezoning or annexation applications except for three categories of exemptions: proposals that are wholly nonresidential, residential projects that have already obtained entitlements or approvals, and amendments to existing approvals that do not increase the number of dwelling units. Pettit said typical single-lot builds on already zoned residential lots would not be affected.

Councilmembers asked about timing and legal limits on moratoriums. Pettit said state law requires a moratorium be tied to a planning effort and that best practices suggest such pauses should generally not exceed one year; council may extend a moratorium later if it is tied to another planning effort or ordinance rewrite. Pettit said the ordinance would be read a second time and that it would start after the second reading; council discussion indicated an intent to have it effective in June after the next meeting.

At a separate information update, Penelope Karaguenas said the town’s comprehensive plan outreach is active: an online survey (ourpathforward) closes June 13, the second open-house drop-in meeting is June 11 at Fort Mill Elementary School, and a downtown master-plan survey will run roughly June 11–July 18. Staff set a public-response goal of 1,000 survey participants and reported 505 responses at one point during outreach. Council members urged broader outreach including local radio, HOAs, churches and the farmers market; staff said paper surveys are available at the town hall annex for residents without internet access.

Council approved the moratorium ordinance by motion and voice vote after the explanation and questions. Staff said the pause will give them time to draft any necessary zoning-ordinance amendments that implement council’s vision before new residential applications resume acceptance.